“Big starts here” was the official theme for this year’s IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida, and big was certainly what was delivered as millions of dollars worth of contracts were signed at the event. Meanwhile, attendees also shared insight, sparked new relations and saw new innovations on the show’s trade floor.

Speaking at the Kick Off event, president and CEO of IAAPA, Paul Noland, said to the thousands in attendance: “Whenever I visit one of these attractions, I see new menu items, new attractions, rides and new marketing campaigns. I ask the leaders of those parks ‘where do you get that idea’ and more often than not they say at an IAAPA expo."

This year’s event saw more than 1,000 companies exhibiting products, 225 educational speakers giving talks and more than 27,000 people from all over the world in attendance.

Some of the more notable unveils from the trade floor included Sally’s US$100,00 (€80,000, £64,000) Joker animatronic for the upcoming ride Justice League: Battle for Metropolis 4D, while Triotech offered new details on the Voyage to the Iron Reef dark ride and US Thrill Rides unveiled its record-breaking Polercoaster.

Meanwhile, several top names featured in sessions throughout the week – including new IAAPA chair Gerardo Arteaga; the outgoing IAAPA chair Mario Mamon and BRC Imagination Arts’ founder and chair Bob Rogers.